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land to our east coasts then takes place in greatest strength. In 

 view of Herr Gatke's remarks on the direction of winds most 

 favourable to visible migration, which he states are from B. or 

 S.E., or some points approximating thereto, it will be interest- 

 ing to note to what extent birds are seen to pass Heligoland 

 when winds are blowing from so-called unfavourable quarters. 

 In the seventh " Eeport on the Migration of Birds " for the year 

 1885, will be found a complete diary referring to the island, 

 compiled by himself for that particular period. 



The following entries will show that considerable migration 

 takes place almost under all conditions of the atmosphei'e : — 



"February 26th. — S.W., early fog; p.m. clear, fine. Corv. 

 frugilegus ten thousands, Cornix few, Sturnus many, Merula few, 

 Alauda passing on overhead. . . . Fr. chloris, cannabina, 

 coelebs many, particularly first. . . . Ant. pratensis and 

 rupestris many. . . Ch. auratus, vanellus and hiaticula, Fr. 

 alpina and Num. arquata all migrating in great numbers." 



Then follows a curious commentary on Herr Gatke's state- 

 ment as to the most favourable winds. 



" February 27th. — S., S.S.E., forenoon fog; p.m. clear, fine. 

 All the above, but less in number." One would naturally have 

 expected greater numbers, owing to the favourable change of 

 wind. 



"March 5th. — N.W., light overcast. Corvus frugilegus and 

 Sturnus, not many. . . . Al. arvensis very many. . . . 

 Char, vanellus thousands, auratus hundreds. . . . Num. 

 arquata and Tringa alpina many. 



" March 9th. — N.N.W., windy, cold, now and then fine snow, 

 and clear. Corv. cornix little flights. 



" March 15th. — N.N.W., windy, cold, overcast ; in evening 

 fog till 1.30 a.m. F. merula tolerable. . . . Sturnus flights. 

 . . . Vanellus early, some flights. . . . 



" March IQth. — W., violent, cold, overcast ; in evening clear. 

 Corv. cornix six to ten, Sturnus till nine in morning ; flights of 

 hundreds and thousands. Merula a few hundreds. . . . 

 Al. arvensis many. Char, vanellus and auratus passing on over- 

 head. . . . Tr. alpina early, great flights. From two o'clock 

 till day-light at lighthouse. Sturnus vulgaris extraordinary 



